After Years Of Saving, Lego Makes Boylston Boy’s Dream A Reality

BOYLSTON (CBS) – It’s not just the Emerald Night Lego train set to 11-year-old James Groccia. It’s the one he almost couldn’t get. “It does have a lot of rare elements and colors. I didn’t believe my dream could come true,” he tells WBZ-TV.

James Groccia and his Lego train set

His mother told him to raise $100 on his own to buy it and it took him two years. “I saved up all of my allowance, birthday and holiday money,” he says.

With their intricate pieces, he’s been passionate about Legos for years. The sets are even like therapy for James who has form of autism known as Asperger Syndrome. But the unthinkable, as Lego stopped making Emerald Night, and by the time his mother went online looking for the toy, it was a collectible selling for hundreds of dollars. “He met his end of the bargain and I felt terrible about the timing thinking I had dropped the ball,” said Karen Groccia.

But James persevered writing a letter to Lego explaining his dilemma. “I got another Lego set, thinking I could forget about the Emerald Night,” James wrote, “but every time I see it anywhere online I get very sad and disappointed. I still want the Emerald Night so badly but there are none to be found.”

Lego responded saying it wanted to make a dream a reality. “We received your letter here in Consumer Services and were very touched by your determination,” the company wrote. “Due to your passion for Lego and your heart-warming letter, we knew we had to go above and beyond to make this a reality.”

When James arrived home from school one day there was a box on the dining room table waiting for him. His father Jay took video of James’ surprise that has gone viral. “It’s so genuine for him, his joy is so real you just feel it,” said Karen Groccia.

His mother says James not only got the toy of his dreams but learned a lesson about honesty and hard work.

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Emmy award-winning Beth Germano is a general assignment reporter for WBZ-TV News. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Germano has been a New England-based reporter for more than 15 years. She joined WBZ-TV as a freelanc...